'You don't look like a legislator': Security stops black, female lawmaker going to work in Ohio

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Emilia Sykes was walking to work in the Ohio Statehouse last year with a fellow lawmaker when she was stopped by security. Officers needed to search her bag, she was told.

Sykes is serving her third year as a Democratic state representative from Akron. She is also a 32-year-old black woman. Her colleague, who was not searched, is a 65-year-old white man who has served in the Legislature for many years.

Sykes said she questioned why her bag needed to be searched when that wasn't protocol. Lawmakers only need a badge to gain access to the Statehouse or the nearby Riffe Center, which houses many lawmakers' offices.

Her colleague told the trooper Sykes was a member of the Ohio House.

She was told: "You don't look like a legislator." The trooper then clarified: "You look too young."

On Wednesday, Sykes had trouble getting into the Riffe Center for a meeting. She flashed her badge for security there. Security said they couldn't see the badge. She flipped it around. They still couldn't see it. She was stopped, and officers examined the badge, Sykes recalled the next day.

In both scenarios, Sykes eventually was able to get into the buildings and go to work. But not every lawmaker faces the same scrutiny, Sykes said.

"It’s just hard to find out what is the security rule," Sykes said. "They seem to be a moving target for different people."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/you-dont-look-like-a-legislator-security-stops-black-female-lawmaker-going-to-work-in-ohio/ar-AAyaxyE?li=BBnb7Kz

[PatSeg]

1. It seems to me

the biggest threat to government buildings would be some right-wing extremist white guy.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Who will be unemployed once this story makes it rounds.

[bitterross]

6. Good Point. I don't recall any young, African American, woman shooters/bombers

All the shooters and bombers I can think of are most certainly not young, African American women. They are mostly young, white, males.

I'm just going to go with the problem was her skin color.

[PatSeg]

8. I don't either

There is a profile for people who bomb or shoot up government buildings and this congresswoman doesn't fit it.

Not only did the security guard profile her because of her race, he profiled her incorrectly. He should have been on the look-out for a Timothy McVeigh type.

[Shrike47]

3. It seems to me the security guards need some instruction on who is likely to be dangerous.

Women aren’t it.

Instead, it appears they are focusing on skin color. Shame.

[appalachiablue]

4. Ignorance, racism & sexism + condescension & hassle is disgusting.

Suspicion, lack of training, all the above is creating fearful, irritated & aggressive situations in workplaces, airports, stores, schools, more...

[yellowwoodII]

5. That's right. She doesn't

I saw her photo. She's very nice-looking.

[pangaia]

7. "You don't look like a trooper. You look to stupid."

[Wolf Frankula]

9. Fire that security agent now!

Legislators should be able to get into the buildings, any time.

Wolf

[syringis]

10. Hi Yo Mama

Well then. Someone should stop Trump : he doesn't look nor act like a president...

Am I silly !

He's not black, so he can destroy the country and the world in the aftermath.

[irisblue]

11. Found on twitter

Link to tweet

[KelleyKramer]

12. "It's just hard to find out what is the security rule"

Oh, I think we all know what 'security rule' they were using